Glass Brasserie, Sydney CBD

488 George St, level 2 of the Hilton
Buffet breakfast
Book online or book as part of a Hilton Mini Break

Most deals don't rope me in. Two for the price of one? I could do without the calories. A 5 year extended warranty for only a little bit extra? I'm sorry - you want more money on top of the purchase price that should ensure that the item works? Likewise, the words "complimentary buffet breakfast" don't wow me. But breakfast at Glass Brasserie is the exception to the rule that buffets mean a ridiculously disproportionate quality to quantity ratio.

Our table looked out onto the QVB; round one (continental breakfast, fruit cocktails, prunes in tea, carrot shot, fruit smoothie)

From the continental section, you've got the usual choices: scrambled eggs, grilled tomatoes, hashbrowns, bacon, mushrooms, quiche and sausages. Amazingly, everything tastes great! There's also really cute fruit juices (including the most adorable beetroot and orange sunset), all the condiments you could ask for (I love tomatoes with mustard seeds) and fruit yoghurts.

Round two: fresh fruit, rhubarb compote, more fruit cocktails, sparkling water, quiche

On the same table are sliced deli meats, cheeses, olives and an impressive assortment of fresh fruits. Again, everything tastes great and just when you realise you're almost full, there's still a whole table of pastries to get to!

The highlights are the filled donuts (we took some for the road, of course) and the honeycomb for fresh honey (I wish I could have packed this in my bag like I did with the Crabtree & Evelyn soaps in our room).

A few things are telling that this is by far the best buffet breakfast I've ever tried (and I've been around the block with buffets). For starters, Dan and I were stuffed and we hadn't even tried everything yet. There's nothing worse than having to do rounds of the same dish in order to get full. Also, service was great and the experience is worth the forty-something dollars they charge for non-guests. If not for the food, the wow-factor, ceiling-to-floor windows and plush leather chairs make breakfast on a Sunday a fun-day...time. (Breakfast is not restricted to Sunday, I just wanted to pun.)

I realise this is my first post in a month and the crappy phone photos don't exactly make up for it. I'm still a bit traumatised by the horrendous 3-hour law exams I've had to sit so it's taking me a while to get back into the swing of real life. Bear with me, please?

Spice Temple, Sydney CBD

10 Bligh St, next to Rockpool Grill & Bar
Modern Chinese restaurant
Reservations taken online and on 02 8078 1888 3 weeks in advance

A 2009 addition to the Neil Perry empire, Spice Temple gives a modern twist on old world China and its cuisine. The whole experience carries an air of mystique. The entrance is neatly tucked away like a secret nightclub - only if you look closely do you realise that the electronic billboard is a hidden door that opens up to reveal a dimly lit stairwell. The spiral stairway is shabby chic, like an old warehouse, with odds and ends placed haphazardly on landings.

Yellow Gold Oolong, $5

At the bottom we are led to our table, walking past evocative portraits of Chinese women and into the main dining area enclosed in wooden vertical venetian blinds. Each table has a low-hanging pendant lamp concocting the feel of candlelight and secrecy. The decor exudes Chinese glamour circa 1960 (I feel as though I could be Maggie Cheung in In the Mood for Love with red lipstick and a cheongsam) and New-York-esque trendiness.

Hunan meringue: citrus vodka, limoncello, grand marnier, mango mousse and vanilla lemon foam, $17. Consume quickly before the meringue settles.

Steering away from typical "Cantonese fare", the menu is a hit for me. I am reminded of my grandparents' cooking and eating at family friends' homes but there is a pronounced difference: the flavours are sharper, more distinct, and the ingredients are incredibly fresh. We decide to go the banquet menu ($69 per person) between the three of us and see how the night unfolds.

First up was cabbage and radish pickle cucumber with smashed garlic (unfortunately, the photos are too blurry to post) - clean, crisp flavours.

Tofu and preserved egg with soy chili dressing

This was beautiful. I love, love, love slippery tofu with chili. The preserved egg was surprisingly light and had a jelly texture.

Steamed eggplant with three flavours: garlic, coriander and sweet pork

The eggplant was actually served with the garlic, coriander and sweet pork on top, separated, and the waiter folded it all together for us at the table. This really was a nice touch - we got to see what was in the dish and appreciate that each dish was served fresh.

Fried squid with whole five spice and dark chili paste

Steamed Blue Eye fillet with salted chili black bean

Hot, sweet, sour and numbing pork: chili, sugar, black vinegar and Sichuan peppercorn

We were wondering why it was called 'numbing pork' and we soon found out why - it numbs your tongue! However, this dish was so much more than just spicy pork. It had an initial crunch like caramel popcorn (it was even as sweet as caramel popcorn), it melted on the tongue and the flavour of the pork came through and finally, the spicyness gradually set in.

Stir fried David Blackmore's wagyu brisket with baby eggplant and chili

Stir fried amaranth with garlic

Watermelon granita with ginger syrup

This was so lovely. The granita tasted like really fresh and sweet watermelon, then at the bottom were fresh pieces of watermelon in a sweet ginger syrup.

The portions may look small but don't be deceived like we were! The dishes were aplenty and accumulated to about two hours of non-stop eating. For $69, this was really great value. Also the service was amazing. The waitstaff were very attentive and helpful with the dishes. After dining like this, it's hard to walk back up the stairs and rejoin the real world.

Japanese Food in Sydney

Tokyo brings back memories of sushi and bloody marys for breakfast, chocolate truffles and bento boxes from Mitsukoshi, gyoza at every ramen house, ramen at every ramen house and copious amounts of fish. Once you have the real thing, you can't go back to Sushi World. I've only been to a few places in Sydney that come close to real Japanese food. My girlfriend Justine and I love Fujiya on George St for a casual dinner. Zushi and Kobe Jones are great for contemporary Japanese sushi. For the taste of authentic ramen, nothing can compare to Ichiban Boshi. And for fast sushi, Hokka Hokka makes their sushi fresh and with love.

Where do you go for Japanese food?